Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com July 11, 2018 LETTERS TO EDITOR POLICY Desert Messenger encourages letters from its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the community, keeping the benefit of all in mind. Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the location of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be pub- lished. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed. Mail letters to: Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 or E-mail to Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 and friend, Linda Bacon, is admin of the Facebook group Southern Oregon Emergency Aid. They coordinated with the California groups for dona- tions, supplies for animals, and vol- unteer caretakers. There were con- stant updates of what supplies and help were needed. I am so inspired by their coopera- tion and compassion, especially with today's atmosphere of social divisive- ness. No one cared about politics or who voted for whom. This was about helping our fellow human beings in a time of crisis. About showing their compassion to total strangers, not judging them based upon the color of their skin, who is their spouse, or what religion they practice, realizing we are all human beings connected through this great tragedy. Crisis seems to bring out the best of humanity. What can we learn from these strangers coming together to help others? Hopefully we can learn to be a bit more compassionate to- wards others, especially those who are different than us. Animals really help bridge the gap between humans, so maybe we can start an animal res- cue plan for emergencies here, too. "Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfi lled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do." ~ Pope John XXIII I once had a friend that I kept hop- ing would change his behaviors, say- ing "but he has so much potential..." Starr laughted and said to me that if he didn't change, his gravestone will say, 'here lies XXXX, with his poten- tial intact!' Let's not wait to help another human. Let's bring the best of ourselves to each and every situation. DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 O� T��� - E���� T���! Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 P�������� ����� � ����� 1st & 3rd Wednesday Sept. thru May with Special Summer Editions June, July & August EDITOR/PUBLISHER Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST Joanne Winer GUEST COLUMNIST Gypsy Jane Finley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE LETTERING Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.MyQuartzsite.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com 2018 © Copyright All Rights Reserved Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain By Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear Editorial Neighborhood Watch to meet Thurs. AUG. 2 Town of Quartzsite invites every- one to attend the next meeting of Neighborhood Watch at 6:00 PM, on THURSDAY, AUG. 2nd, 2018, at the Quartzsite Com- munity Center. Chief William Ponce said he looks forward to working with the resi- dents to create a safer community. Launched in 1972, Neighbor- hood Watch counts on citizens to organize themselves and work with law enforcement to keep a trained eye and ear on their communities, while demonstrating their pres- ence at all times of day and night. Sponsored by the National Sher- iffs' Association (NSA), the Nation- al Crime Prevention Council says, "Neighborhood watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the coun- try, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer." For more information contact the Quartzsite Police Department at 928-927-4644. Wow! What a week! 4th of July was a fantabulous event for the communi- ty. Yes, I said fantabulous! As usual, I over did it and had to take it easy for a few days. On July 5th a fi re started in Hornbrook, Calif. just a few miles from where my mother lived in her oasis near the Klamath River. After her death, we lived there before going full time RVing. I was riveted to the news for updates of the fi re as it grew ever closer to the old homestead. Once again I witnessed the power of social media, as temporary Face- book groups were formed, my friends checked in saying that they were safe, and calls for volunteers were an- swered. It's a very rural area near the Oregon border, and almost everyone has lots of animals. Animal lovers in both states jumped in, rescuing hors- es, dogs, cats, birds, cattle, pigs...you name it, they saved them from the fi re, but some had injuries. Another example of how small the world is, a former Quartzsite vendor "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." ~ Helen Keller DEADLINE : WED. AUG 1 ST for the august 8 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

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